E.P. Review: Boom Tales- Chapter 1- The Day's Jewels

E.P. REVIEW:

Boom Tales

Chapter 1- The Day's Jewels

9.6/10.0

Chapter 1- The Day's Jewels.

PRODUCED AND MIXED BY: Bradley Kohn at Home Farm Studios

CO-PRODUCED BY: Ashley Radford and Andy Mangnall

MASTERED BY: Howie Weinberg

COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: U.K.

TRACK LIST:

Illuminate- Ft. Eloise Lovell Anderson- 9.7

As Eagles- 9.5

Captain Slow- Ft. Eloise Lovell Anderson- 9.5

Storm She Came- Ft. Eloise Lovell Anderson- 9.7

Beyond- Ft. Eloise Lovell Anderson- 9.6

Standout Track: Illuminate

The E.P. is launched on May 27th:

Cecil's

8 Holyrood Street

SE1 2EL

London

United Kingdom

The E.P. is available to purchase on May 27th via:

www.boomtales.org

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The London-based band have a panache for Boho fashion and eye-catching flair. Their songs mix peaceful calm with uplifting implore. In an era where guitar-heavy insipidness politize strongly- vote for something that offers that extra something.

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THE thing that entered my mind (first) when investigating Boom Tales...

is how striking the group are. In terms of looks and projection, you would imagine the quartet would spend their time surfing on a Californian beach or seducing women in the 19th century. The chiselled and dashing four-piece not only have a striking outer layer, but stun with their musical output. When assessing which genre(s) Boom Tales' music falls into; it cross-pollinates Boho Rock and modern-day Indie with '60s and '70s U.S. influences. Our ambitious band consist:

Ashley - Vocals/Guitar/Percussion Rollo - Guitar Tom Fromant - Bass Lulla Hartmann- Drums

"Ashley Radford and Rollo Bergerac, both hailing from the isle of Jersey, met age sixteen in the ruckus of a rock festival. A ritual soon formed of long jamming sessions looking out from the rugged coastlines after a day spent in the sea. Years later guitarist Rollo wrote from the wild shores of New Zealand's South Island. Traveling alone, sleeping in his car, following the waves, he had the vision of the two friends creating music together again. Singer Ashley’s memories of sailing to France with his father "watching the sails for boom tales" founded the name. The band’s first EP ‘Chapter I- The Day's Jewels’ was recorded 'unplugged' and reflects their raw, travel enthused roots. The record features vocals from actress and musician Eloise Lovell Anderson, who stars in the music video for the first single 'Illuminate'. The band’s soundscape has developed with their live shows, encompassing influences from Pearl Jam and Jimi Hendrix to Ben Harper and Bon Iver. Lulla Hartmann and Tom Fromant play drums and bass, whilst Rollo favours electric guitar experimentation over the acoustic approach of the EP. Teamed with tribal percussion and shamanic infused lyrics from Ashley, Boom Tales are pioneering their own unique Boho Rock sound. 'Chapter 1- The Day's Jewels' is set for release 27th May, with a launch party at Cecil's, London Bridge."

At the moment there are quite a few hungry and vibrant bands making their names around London, yet this quartet separate themselves apart and offer something new. In a sea of indeterminate and variable quality and interest, Boom Tales strike the eye, ear and heart. With contributions and additions from Eloise Lovell Anderson's raw and sensual voice, you are treated to a heady and captivating act. Anderson contributes a huge amount, and it is hard to ignore her beautiful and stirring tones.

If you are a fan of thoughtful and deep music, then you will love these guys. Their sounds offer up Americana and U.S. Country tones; there are huge and emotive vocals that put me in mind of classic-era Pearl Jam and Red Hot Chilli Peppers. Similarly, Reef and Soundgarden (oddly) come through strongly. Softer and more introverted moments blend Acoustic Folk with Reggae tinges, so if you are a fan of any of the aforementioned (and predisposed to embrace this type of music), then Boom Tales will resonate hard and prick your interest. The psychotropic, hypnotic and alluring blend of music they offer has a contemporary and urgent rush to it, but also displays vintage colours and elements. For those whom prefer their music passionate, emotive and deeply compelling, then you will definitely find much to recommend throughout Chapter 1- The Day's Jewels.

Delicate percussion and river flow acoustic strings beckon in Illuminate. Your mind is instantly transported to a countryside paradise or sunset majesty; with hints of King of Convenience and Bon Iver trickling through. Speaking of the Medicine Man and the chance to "initiate a change", Radford's voice is soothing but implorative. You get the sense that a festival such as Burning Man is being surveyed; faces painted in blood and mud mingle; the sunlight illuminates the throng. As the song progresses, scenes of nightshade and belladona come to the fore; our frontman presents a repeated coda: "I walk and forgot it." With Anderson's gorgeous and evocative vocals adding tender colours into the mix, the song soothes and anoints; its breezy and catchy charm seduces you- and you elicit a giant smile. With stadium-sized vocals (with Metal and Grunge potential), Radford's anthemic power blends instinctively with Anderson's exquisite tones. With two powerful, distinct and potent voices wrapped around Illuminate's words, it is a song that gets inside your head and emphatically begins the E.P. Another delicate and Folk-tinged intro. allows As Eagles to soar early on. A dreamy, woozy and scene-setting sonic snatch kicks the song into top gear; Radford's voice is urgent but restrained (in the early phase) as he weaves and tumbles his words ("Constellations correlate/To your bones/were never separate"). The track's nature-filled travelogue provides majestic soar, open skies, and mystic promises. Our frontman (and his subject) are in a place where "we don't need to try"- his voice yearns and resonates with passion. With some suggestions of Ben Harper and Counting Crows, we complete a memorable 1-2. Your mind is transported to a scenic clifftop as the sapling moments of Captain Slow arrive. Springing and romanticized guitars transport you somewhere scenic and safe. Whether employing metaphors for love and romance or literally presenting ocean and island scenes; vivid images enter your mind. When Anderson's crystalline and elliptical voice parabonds with Radford's (on the line "How well do you know this place?") the most stirring moment of the E.P. is provided. Our front-man swims the sea; diving and plundering he comes "aboard with the day's jewels." At times Radford is the pastor; delivering the sermon to his congregation- Anderson's wordless and swooping vocals add an additional layer of etherealness. I caught faint hints of Steely Dan in the vocal and music (Kings and Deacons Blues especially), and was left impressed by the group's momentum, mobility and range. Storm She Came is the penultimate track, and boasts Bluegrass and Country flavour; twanging and rubbery guitar notes inject intrigue and Southern States candour into the opening salvo. "Looking out from a tree house", Radford looks out on life. With some familiarly pleasing accompanying vocals by Anderson, shamanic and tribal beats mix with embers of love and passion; leading to not only the most urgent and atmospheric composition (so far), but one of the most instant choruses. Kudos must be paid to the percussion, which manages to whip up a wealth of force and meaning without any histrionics. Strings are beautifully electrifying and hypnotizing as our frontman loses his senses in the storm (that his heroine has created)- you cannot help but be impressed by the conviction of the vocal, vivacity of the lyrics; as well as the tight and compelling band performance. Completing the E.P. is Beyond. With ghostly and choral vocals joining with straining strings, Radford and Anderson duet once more (elongating the song's title with spectral haunt). The duo let their seductive and gospel vocalisations weave around words such as "We keep spirits high." Our frontman lead the heroine (Anderson) to the garden, but, as it is revealed: "you had to leave alone". Moonlit mountains, clearings and spirits are once more invoked and deployed- Boom Tales keep nature and scenic tableaux at the forefront once more. As the fire turns to ember, our enduring twosome keep emotion and fascination high. With gorgeous and inflamed vocals (making lines such as "You're the reason we know" so memorable), the E.P. reaches its end.

Chapter 1- The Day's Jewels was recorded unplugged and live. The pure and unfettered sound makes each track lodge into your brain, and make you feel as though you are listening to a mini concert. You can tell that experiences at sea and abroad (Bergerac wrote around New Zealand's South Island; Radford sailed around France with his father) played a huge part in the formative stages of their careers. Each track takes you to a new landscape; wild and evocative scenes are presented, and the listener is treated to a voyage of (self) discovery; the gorgeous and mesmeric tracks seep into your veins. The E.P. is one to listen to when you want to get away; take all the woe and misery from your mind; be uplifted and compelled by music. The melodies and compositions are beautifully constructed and filled with nuance; the lyrics are intelligent, poetic and imbued with repeatability (sic.). Being an embryonic and (practically) new-born act, their discography is gleaming and brand-new- so it is hard to draw comparisons with any previous output. Chapter 1- The Day's Jewels is an accomplished, treasure-filled and stunning quintet of tracks that will see fans and venues flock towards Boom Tales- keen to take them in and hear them play. The boys are brilliant throughout, yet Radford stands out as a most compelling singer; one whose voice seems capable of being able to do anything- it will be interesting to see how it develops and impresses in future releases. Anderson contributes stunning and tender vocals, which add weight and beauty to the tracks she performs on. Her voice goes from a wordless coo, all the way to bellowing and operatic (the latter is particularly true in the case of Beyond, where she displays hints of Hannah Reid). The boys are handsome and athletic; Anderson is stunningly beautiful, yet the music, vocals and words offered up are filled with nuance, emotion, energy and lustre. I predict that Boom Tales will be conquering large swathes of the U.K (once the E.P. is fully digested) and I would not be surprised to see future profitability mutate into international acclaim. Their sound is transferable and universal, and can (and will) be appreciated by hugely varied crowds. Being '...Volume 1', it will be fascinating to hear what future E.P.s/albums will resemble- will there be electric guitars and orchestration? Perhaps Hendix-esque swathes (amidst songs of modern-life heartache)? Maybe not; but the near-future is sure to be tantalising and filled with fresh promise. Boom Tales are a stunning act that are highly likely to supersede borderline-anonymity- and find themselves clasped to critical bosoms before too long. What I do know is...

WE will be hearing a lot more from this group in years to come.